The park
system that rings metro Detroit is embroiled in numerous legal battles over
hiring and promotion practices that some law enforcement officers claim favor
minority candidates over older white males.
At least
four lawsuits have been filed against the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority
and various officials since November, claiming age, race or sex discrimination.
The attorney
for the park system calls the claims nonsense, but a union representative said
it is the most turmoil he has seen during his time representing the
department's officers.
There are 13
Huron-Clinton Metroparks.
"I've
been out there for probably over 25 years, and none of these problems were
there three years ago," said Jerry Radovic, business agent for the Police
Officers Association of Michigan.
Radovic was
referring to the time before Police Chief George Phifer began his employment
with the park system. Phifer was named chief in September 2008. He could not be
reached for comment.
George
Steele, the attorney representing the Metroparks, said that many of the
complaints about the department stem from a reorganization begun in 2005 that
Phifer is now administering.
"Overall
we have a professionally organized and efficient and administered police
department," Steele said. "The reorganization is an evolution (that
is) still going on, and the way that the department is being run ... has the
full endorsement of the Board of Commissioners."
Steele
acknowledged that some officers are unhappy.
Harley Rider
of Dexter Township is one of several officers represented by Pinckney attorney
James Fett, who have filed suit against the authority.
His suit is
scheduled for trial in July. Rider, white and 63, claims there has been a
concerted effort to diversify the department at the expense of older, white
officers, naming Deputy Director Gregory Almas in the suit.
Rider said
he was improperly passed over for the chief's job in favor of Phifer, who his
lawsuit says is 15 years younger and less qualified. Almas, who did not return
calls, is in charge of human resources.
Rider, a
commander in the department and also the Dexter Township clerk, describes the
Metroparks prior to Phifer's arrival as a kind of idyllic place. He also
described what he called a campaign of retaliation for complaining about
Phifer's employment that included multiple transfers that at one point took him
from a 5-mile commute to 90-minute commute and a stripping away of his responsibilities
and oversight.
"The
Metroparks was a great place to work," he said. "Now I don't enjoy
going to work. There are days when the alarm clock goes off and I dread getting
up."
Rider, who
has been with the park system since 1981, claims that Phifer's hiring was a
result of Almas' attempts to diversify the department.
"I've
even heard him say on more than one occasion that he's doing everything he can
to bring in more minorities," Rider said. "We've been a color-blind
department."
Fett claims
the alleged focus on diversity is illegal.
"This
diversify and diversity is a code word for jamming old white guys," he
said.
Steele
disputed Rider's claims, saying Phifer was the more qualified candidate. Steele
also said the Metroparks is not running a diversity program, although he noted
that "diversity is a noble goal for any company."
Rider and
others said there about 60 full- and part-time officers on the police force.
The park system's 2011 annual report says the total number of full-time
positions for all departments was 223, which included 148 white males, 55 white
females, eight black males and four black females.
The current
administration of the Metroparks, especially Phifer, got a big endorsement from
Harry Lester, one of seven Metroparks commissioners.
"I
think George has done an outstanding job and has brought fresh new ideas to the
(parks) and has been a great help to the park system," Lester said.
Lester, who
represents Wayne County on the board, disputed the notion that there is any
improper attempt to diversify the department. "I don't think there's any
attempt to diversify things. I think there's an attempt to run things
better," he said.